Michael Bennett (theater)

Michael Bennett
Born
Michael Bennett DiFiglia

(1943-04-08)April 8, 1943
DiedJuly 2, 1987(1987-07-02) (aged 44)
Occupation(s)
Choreographer
dancer
director
writer
Spouse
(m. 1976; div. 1977)

Michael Bennett (April 8, 1943 – July 2, 1987) was an American musical theatre director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven.

Bennett choreographed Promises, Promises, Follies and Company. In 1976, he won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Choreography for the musical A Chorus Line. Bennett, under the aegis of producer Joseph Papp, created A Chorus Line based on a workshop process which he pioneered. He also directed and co-choreographed Dreamgirls with Michael Peters.